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Apple Updates AirPods Pro Firmware to Version 4A402 and AirPods 3 Firmware to 4B66
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Seems like this has fixed Airpods Pro remembering the settings for Noise Cancellation in One Ear even when switching through devices.
It's not dependent on the firmware version, but rather the iOS one. It's more convenient tho, yes.
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I have 4 pairs of AirPods (max included) and updating these is so counter intuitive. I don’t even bother with them anymore
Would have been nice to give people the option of ANC intensity.
No luck with updating them yet.. as most of the times a firmware update is released.
Interesting. Mine just seemed to update like they were supposed to, which is different than my Beats update experience. My AirPod G3's and APP just updated. *POP* They were updated. It was almsot too weird to have them actually update. Not that I'm complaining. I need to check the firmware on my Beats stuff and see if they are up to date. (Beats used to have an update app, but dropped it a while ago. A major step backwards, IMO)
If you're playing around with them now, put them in the case and let em sit for about 20-30. Open them back up and check. Just happened to mine.
I have a hunch that the ANC complaints due to these updates are mostly people noticing a hardware level degradation of performance over time when they hear about a software update.
I got both of my AirPods Pro buds replaced recently with the support program and I noticed a substantial improvement in ANC quality with these brand new buds. It is not scientific by any mean but I'm starting to think this product just has a lot of hardware level problems related to durability and sustained performance.
Not saying you're wrong, but what hardware-wise would be degrading that would negatively affect ANC performance?
it's placebo. I got my airpods pro replaced by apple and it had the original firmware. I was aware of the anecdotes and so paid attention to it. no noticeable change upon upgrade to a modern firmware.
Not sure I agree with this completely since I also received a replacement (for one ear) this past week and they perform similarly to the one that they didn't replace with the same firmware. I also think that since there's been objectively measurable changes in performance (RTINGS, et al.) and also slight improvements with some FW in between that you can't discount that Apple is indeed changing things up.
Don't forget that the second update, the one that degraded the ANC, came out a mere two months after launch.
"There have also been user reports that the ANC became worse after firmware update 2C54, released in December 2019. After updating this firmware, our results showed a fairly significant drop in isolation performance, primarily in the bass range. This means that with ANC turned on, they won't do nearly as good a job blocking out the low engine rumbles of planes or buses as they did before this update. Our latest retest uses firmware update 4A400, released in October 2021, which shows that their overall noise isolation performance has been further weakened."
Again, I'm not saying this is scientific but I wouldn't be surprised if the exterior mics they use to cancel out audio degrade over time similar to the other internals related to audio covered in Apple's service program.
You can skip steps #4-5.
What I, and others, have found helpful is if you open up Music and play a song for ~1~2 minutes then stop it.
Go from step 3 to step 6 (time varies). The update is done.
Yeah, mine were just laying there, and they updated. They were not connected to the iPhone, but somehow it knew to flash them. It just worked. Surprising how bad my prior experience has been. It actually worked really well. This time...
That's the frustrating thing about the Airpods.
Hopefully, Apple will add a small update button in the case for the upcoming APP 2 to make it easier for everyone.
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I've had mine physically plugged in to a wired charger all day so far with no luck. I'm trying your method now.
It's not exactly what he's saying, but one modality is that the ANC circuitry's longevity (as with *any* semiconductor) is related to thermal ranges in which it operates, and it is possible that Apple has collected data that indicates a certain elevated percentage of warranty-related service on failure related to the ANC circuitry (which would increase warranty cost, remember, warranty expense to revenue ratio is a major metric tracked my all vendors...) and to maintain their warranty E/R there may have been a slight engineering change (these happen and are not generally noticeable) in production runs after a given time/date where perhaps this tweak is not necessary, thus creating a phenomenon where early revs of the HW of the AirPods Pro have degraded ANC performance under newer firmwares and replacements (even on the same firmware rev) do not exhibit this as their ANC circuitry or design is very slightly tweaked to afford different dynamics.
Who knows, this is all wild speculation to try to come up with hardware-based explanations for this, and it isn't necessarily even likely, but the most credible "hardware degradation" story I could come up with that is plausible (but admittedly, not probable, more likely is just placebo effect by users).
I understand your hypothesis and agree that is common practice but I don't understand people calling it a placebo considering there are objective measurements on the ANC's performance.
Also, consider the first major drop in performance that happened less than two months after launch (12/2020) and the next major one that happened last month, there's massive ****ery going on there if it is indeed a hardware issue. I just wish they would be more transparent rather than pretend nothing has happened. I'd be fine if they released a statement saying they had to decrease it because of X/Y/Z but nada.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the v2 of the APP performs with regards to ANC.
I'm a big fan of their products, this specific one is just a sore spot for me.
Also, consider the first major drop in performance that happened less than two months after launch (12/2020) and the next major one that happened last month, there's massive ****ery going on there if it is indeed a hardware issue. I just wish they would be more transparent rather than pretend nothing has happened. I'd be fine if they released a statement saying they had to decrease it because of X/Y/Z but nada.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the v2 of the APP performs with regards to ANC.
I'm a big fan of their products, this specific one is just a sore spot for me.
I’ve found that clicking the stem once or twice reattached the link to the AirPods, but that’s in a VW.